Explosive bolt operated quarter band



March 10, 1964 J. o. MOBLEY ETAL 3,124,071

EXPLOSIVE BOLT OPERATED QUARTER BAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2 8, 1961 INVENTORS JOSEPH O. MOBLEY ALLEN J. SONDHEIMER BY March 10, 1964 J. o. MOBLEY ETAL 3,124,071

EXPLOSIVE BOLT OPERATED QUARTER BAND Filed July 28. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOSEPH O. MOBLEY ALLEN J. SONDHEIMER MarchlO, 1964 J. o. MOBLEY ETAL 3,124,071

. EXPLOSIVE BOLT OPERATED QUARTER BAND Filed July 28, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JOSEPH O. MOBLEY ALLEN J. SONDHEIMER BY W ATTYS.

EXPLUSIVE BOLT OPERATED QUARTER BAND Joseph 0. Mohley, Silver Spring, and Allen J. Sondheimer,

Chevy Chase, Md., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed July 28, 1961, Ser. No. 127,745 1 Claim. (Cl. 1ll249) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a missile stage connecting and releasing device, the quick release connector of this invention providing a quickly detachable clamp that can be used to hold the depth bomb or bird section of the missile in a sealing relationship with the motor section of the missile. The present invention is able to withstand a high tensile load without separating and provides a clamping section between the bird section and the motor section of the missile which is comparable'in strength to a bolted or V-band clamp.

In order for the missile flight to be successful it is necessary at some predetermined moment to detach the motor section from the birdsection, the bird section continuing along its path of momentum. Sufiicient momentum is initially provided by the motor section to propel the bird to the desired range. The'separation of the bird section from the motor section must be accomplished in a very short space of time and the bird must be completely released simultaneously throughout the 360 of contact with the motor section to prevent any deviation of the bird section from its course. The quick release connector must be capable of release within a few microseconds, simultaneously throughout the entire 360" of contact. The connector or clamp must be carried internally in the missile and there must be sufficient space to house the discarded clamp so as not to interfere with the bird section at the time of release.

In the field of release connectors, it has been the practice to employ multiple cams and linkages, spring-operated systems and multiple explosive bolts. Although such devices have served the purpose, they have not proved entirely satisfactory under all conditions of service for the reason that considerable diiiiculty has been experienced in providing a way for the devices to act quickly. Difliculties also have been encountered in providing power for releasing these devices. Mechanical cams and linkages are usually slow acting and require relatively large amounts'of power. The spring-operated devices are also slow acting and require a reliable method or release of the spring itself. The multiple explosive bolt systems have not been reliable due to the fact that all explosive bolts in a given section must function at the same time. None of these systems except the multiple explosive bolt system has been able to provide a large clamping force between missile sections.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide a quick release connector for connecting the bird section to the motor section of the missile which will embrace all the advantages of similar employed devices but possesses none of the aforedescribed disadvantages. To obtain this, the present invention contemplates a unique circumferential band divided into four equal segments or quarter bands which are joined at two junctions 180 apart by explosive bolts and are joined at the other two junctions by hinges. This construction provides a band that may be snugly fitted to the missile locking one component to the adjacent component. This construction also provides sufiicient freedom so that by firing of only one explosive United States Patent bolt the band will be released. Reliability is obtained by using two bolts that are wired in parallel.

An object of the present invention is to provide a quick release device for holding two stages of the missile together.

Another object is to provide a clamp which will hold the bird section of the missile in tight sealing relationship with the motor section of the missile throughout substan tially 360 of contact between the two sections and which will release the bird section from the motor section simuL:

taneously throughout the entire 360 of contact area within a few microseconds.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device which will operate under high tensile load.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a four sectional clamp to hold the bird section of the missile in sealing relationship with the motor section of the missile which may be applied without special tools or knowledge and which may be completely released through an explosive medium.

Another object is to provide a new and improved releasing device which can be automatically operated.

A still further object is to provide an adjustable four.- section clamping band having double hinges to insure cooperation between tapered surfaces of the band and to provide a seal.

Further objects and the entire scope of the invention will become further apparent from the following de tailed description and the appended claims. The accompanying drawings display the general construction and the operational principles of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that the drawings are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation thereof wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the motor and bird section of the missile;

FIG. 2 is a view of a missile with the device of the invention in position between the two missile stages;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the double hinged bolt holding the clamp together; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clamping device in an exploded position.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a missile 11 consisting of a bird section 12 and a motor section 13. The bird section of the missile is designed to be inserted into the thrust reversal housing 14 substantially as shown in FIG. 2, the thrust reversal housing being the interface between the bird section 12 and the motor section 13.

The bird section 12 has a plurality of stabilizing fins 15 located near the rear end of the bird, just forward of the thrust reversal nozzles 16. The thrust reversal housing 14, shown in FIG. 2, is an integral part of the motor section 13 at the interior thereof, the side covering 17 being locked hi the motor section by a clamping band 18. The top portion of the thrust reversal housing 14- contains a substantially thickened portion 19 which has an outward fiare on which the bird section 12 is located. The thickened portion 19 has an outward circular flare allowing the bird section 12 to be lowered onto and in the circular aperture; the bird section making contact at the outermost rim, not shown, and on shoulder 21 of the thickened portion. The rear end of the bird section is tapered to enter the thrust reversal housing and to seal itself on the thickened portion of the housing 19 and 21. The rear end of the bird section protrudes into the thrust reversal housing a short distance. The bird housing has a circular groove 22 located adjacent the shoulder 21. The circular groove has an obturator ring 24- located therein to prevent moisture from entering the thrust re- Patentediiilar. 10, less versal housing. A circular lining 23 is located inside the bird and extends just past the annular ring of the bird to make contact with the sealing ring 24. The circular lining also has an obturator ring 25 for making another water tight connection, the sealing ring 24 being an integral part of the thrust reversal housing 14. The rear end of the bird housing extending past the shoulder 21 of the thrust reversal housing is formed with an annular groove 26 and a tapered portion 27 which terminates in an annular shoulder 28, the annular groove and tapered portion forming a part of the locking device for holding the bird section into the thrust reversal housing and motor. The quick clamping device 29 shown in FIG. 3 has four inserts 30 attached in the usual manner. Each insert has a thickened portion 31 that fits into the annular groove of the bird section and a tapered portion 33 which coincides with the tapered portion of the bird and a ring portion integral therewith for clamping around the annular shoulder 28 of the bird section. When the quick release clamping device is locked onto the bird section it will be readily apparent that it would be impossible for the bird section to separate from the thrust reversal housing of the motor without considerable damage to that portion of the housing.

The clamp band 32 securing the inserts to the bird section in the thrust reversal section is formed of four equal segments or quarter bands as shown in FIG. 3. The four quarter band sections are formed of members of 90 arcuate sections which are double hinge connected to form two identical semi-circular sections. The semicircular sections are connected by bolts capable of being blown apart by self-contained explosives.

The pair of 90 arcuated sections forming a semicircular section have insert sections 30 located on the inside face of the band. It is considered obvious that it may be desirable to leave the inserts unattached and merely clamp them in position by band 32, if desired. Each of the arcuate sections having an enlarged end 35 is bored to receiving the explosive bolts 34 shown in FIG. 5 which is used to lock the two ends together. The other end 36 of each of the 90 areuate sections is formed with an ear 37 which is formed so as to be easily connected with a pin 38. Each pin 38 is held together by bolt 39. The pins 38 are formed to be an integral part of bolt 39 as shown in FIG. 4. The explosive bolt 34 is locked onto the enlarged portions 35 of the band to prevent longitudinal movement of the band in either direction. The explosive bolt is hollow and will receive, from the head end, an explosive fitting 41 having an electrical connecting cord 42 attached thereto as shown in FIG. 5. Upon actuation the explosive bolts drive each of the semi-circular portions of the band away from the bird section into the chamber 43 of the thrust reversal housing.

In the assembly of the bird section to the motor section, the bird section is lowered into the thrust reversal housing and the quick release band is placed over the tapered end of the bird and clamped around the bird, the rim or the thickened portion of the band 31 entering the angular groove 26 and the tapered portion 33 of the clamp making contact with the tapered face 27 of the bird. The quick release clamp may be adjusted to the proper size by adjusting bolts 39 as deemed necessary. As the explosive bolts 34 are tightened the thickened portion 31 is drawn into the annular groove 26 and draws the bird section and the thrust reversal housing together, until that portion of the bird is located inside the thrust reversal housing. In this position, the obturator ring 25 is in a sealing relation with the thrust reversal housing and the bird section is firmly fixed onto the motor section. When the time for releasing the bird is at hand, the control circuit, not shown, in the bird section produces a voltage to ignite the explosive bolt 34 rupturing the bolt to release and drive each semi-circular rear portion of the bolt out into the thrust reversal housing. By the unique double hinged construction of the clamping device the semi-circular sections fly out from the groove simultaneously throughout the 360 contact, releasing the bird from the motor section. The parts of the clamp have sufiicient room within the thrust reversal housing to avoid any possible contact with the bird section after release, complete separation being accomplished within a few microseconds.

It can be seen that the quick release band has many advantages heretofore unobtainable in the art. One of these advantages is the extreme speed with which this device can be released. Reliability has been obtained by this device by using parallel explosive bolts with the double hinged clamp which allows either explosive bolt to provide the necessary release of the mechanism.

Applicant has been able to obtain by this device simplicity which was heretofore unknown. The band can easily be mounted to the motor section and yet provides great strength at the joint without excessive power requirements for releasing it at the proper time. The quick release connector also provides an eiiective missile separation without imparting a turning moment to either the motor or bird section which generaily occurs when one uses explosive bolts and one fires slightly before the other.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For example, a flat quarter band could be used to contain the balls of a ball lock release mechanism instead of using the thickened portion 19 to project into the annular groove.

It is also deemed obvious from the teachings of applicants device that the quarter band using an integral angular surface which would impart a wedging action between the motor section and the bird section could also be used.

It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent or" the United States is:

A quickly detachable connector for coupling a motor section of a missile to a telescoping bird section having a. clamping groove formed therein with one side of said groove inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said bird section, comprising:

a clamping band formed of a plurality of arcuate segments arranged in a substantially circular configuration,

said segments having cross-sectional configurations complementary to the shape of the clamping groove in said bird section,

hinge means interconnecting pairs of said segments at alternate junctions thereof to enable said segments to pivot radially outward to uncouple said motor and bird sections, and

explosive bolts interconnecting adjacent segments at the remaining junctions thereof to form a continuous band wedged within the clamping groove for normally maintaining said motor and bird sections in coupled relationship,

said explosive bolts when detonated causing said segments to pivot radially outward.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,517 Workman Oct. 25, 1955 2,809,584 Smith Oct. 15, 1957 2,871,658 Keck Feb. 3, 1959 2,982,437 Wheatley May 2, 1961 2,996,316 Terhune Aug. 15, 1961 3,029,734 Allenson Apr. 17, 1962 

